It is frustrating to find our batteries discharged, particularly in the spring
after our boats, R.V.'s, motorcycles, personal watercrafts, etc. have been in
storage for the fall and winter.

With a little maintenance and information, you can avoid the frustrations
of "discharged batteries" and the cost of buying new batteries as
well.

Did you know that a battery starts to discharge once it is filled with electrolyte.
Here in the Northwest, most boat and car batteries left unattended (and assuming
no "parasitic drains" from computers, etc) will not start the engine
after about 3 months. For smaller batteries such as personal watercraft and
motorcycles, it takes only about a month to discharge the battery to 75%, which
usually will prevent the engine from starting. In hotter climates, this can
occur in less time than those specified above.

Discharged batteries not only won't start your vehicle but will become ruined
and in need of replacement if left without any maintenance. A process called
"sulfation" occurs if the battery voltage drops below 12.4 volts or if specific
gravity drops below 1.225 as measured by hydrometer. Sulfation actually hardens
the battery's internal plates, which need to remain soft and porous so that
the electrolyte can flow through them.

Monitoring your batteries for these parameters, voltage and specific gravity,
can be done easily and cheaply and will ensure maximum life from your batteries.
All you need is a voltmeter and hydrometer.

Armed with this information you can then determine if you need to charge your
battery.

For those applications where batteries are stored for over 2-3 months "without
use", an excellent option to maintain your batteries are the "completely
automatic, complete shut off "chargers that are now available. These chargers
have computer chips that sense when the battery needs charging and automatically
turns itself on. After the battery is charge it automatically turns itself off
and therefore never overcharges or undercharges your batteries. They can be
left connected to an AC outlet indefinitely. Contact us for more information.